Consultant, Environmental Biologist/Ecologist/Scientist

Environmental Resources Management, Inc.; Overland Park (KS); On-site; USD 70,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

ERM is seeking a Consultant‑ Environmental Biologist/Ecologist/Scientist to advance field‑based environmental work across mid‑Atlantic and southeastern U.S. You will support permitting, ecological assessments, and compliance on energy and infrastructure projects, with a focus on wetlands and protected species.

The role combines fieldwork with data‑driven analyses and collaboration with a multidisciplinary team.

Qualifications

• BS in environmental science, biology, natural resources, or related discipline and 3–5 years of experience.
• Field survey techniques and WOTUS delineations with GPS data collection.
• Familiarity with ArcGIS Field Maps, Survey123, and Bio App tools.

Responsibilities

• Support environmental assessments, permitting efforts, and ecological field investigations.
• Conduct wetland delineations and environmental surveys for project planning.
• Provide expertise on rare, threatened, and endangered species assessments.
• Help identify environmental risks and mitigation strategies for regulatory compliance.
• Collaborate with ERM project teams to deliver technical analyses and reports.
• Develop skills in environmental permitting, NEPA-related work, and diligence.

Skills

Environmental field surveys

WOTUS delineations

GPS field data collection

ArcGIS Field Maps

Survey123

Bio App

Education

BS in environmental science

Biology

Natural resources

Tools

ArcGIS

Survey123

Bio App

Job description

Shape the future of sustainable development while advancing your expertise in environmental science and ecology. Join ERM as a Consultant, Environmental Biologist/Ecologist/Scientist and play a key role in delivering impactful projects that support renewable energy, power, technology, and oil and gas development. In this position, you will contribute directly to environmental permitting, impact assessments, compliance initiatives, and critical infrastructure projects across the mid-Atlantic and southeastern United States. This field-focused opportunity offers the chance to work alongside industry-leading experts, expand your technical capabilities in wetlands and species management, and build a rewarding career with a global sustainability consulting leader.

Why This Role Matters?

Environmental challenges are becoming increasingly complex, and organizations need trusted experts to help them develop responsibly while meeting regulatory requirements and sustainability goals. As a Consultant within ERM's Capital Project Delivery (CPD) team, you will help clients navigate environmental permitting, ecological assessments, compliance obligations, and development risks. Your work will support critical projects that balance environmental stewardship with business and infrastructure growth.

This role offers a unique opportunity to build hands‑on expertise in wetland delineations, protected species assessments, environmental permitting, and compliance management while collaborating with a multidisciplinary team of scientists, planners, engineers, and project managers.

What Your Impact Is:

You will serve as a trusted environmental professional supporting project delivery across a diverse portfolio of development projects. Your contributions will help clients make informed decisions, achieve regulatory compliance, and advance projects responsibly from planning through execution. You will:

• Support environmental assessments, permitting efforts, and ecological field investigations that inform critical business and development decisions.
• Conduct wetland delineations and environmental surveys that directly influence project planning and regulatory approvals.
• Contribute technical expertise related to rare, threatened, and endangered species assessments and habitat evaluations.
• Help clients identify environmental risks, develop mitigation strategies, and maintain compliance with applicable federal, state, and local regulations.
• Work closely with ERM project teams to deliver high‑quality technical analyses, reports, and client solutions.
• Build long‑term expertise in environmental consulting while gaining exposure to a wide range of industries, geographies, and project types.

What You'll Bring:

Required BS in environmental science, biology, natural resources, or related discipline, or equivalent experience. 3 to 5 years of relevant environmental experience or professional internships. Familiarity with field survey techniques and WOTUS delineations, including working knowledge of sub‑meter accuracy GPS technologies and digital data collection platforms such as ArcGIS Field Maps, Survey123, and/or Bio App. Strong commitment to safety. Willingness and desire to support field assignments between 50% and 80% of the time during the field season (April to October). Working knowledge of field techniques for plant identification and their facultative rating, the 50/20 rule, soil sampling, hydric soil identification using the most current version of the Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) Field Indicators of Hydric Soils, and wetland hydrology indicators. Detail‑oriented with excellent critical thinking and troubleshooting/problem‑solving skills. Effective written, verbal, organizational, and analytical skills. Experience recording and writing detailed technical data and reports and building tables and spreadsheets, including tabulation and manipulation of data. Ability to engage in multifaceted and dynamic situations and collaborate with a team of experts throughout the project lifecycle. Ability to multi‑task, maintain flexibility, and work independently with minimal supervision. Demonstrated attributes to become a strong consultant, including being a team player, eagerness to learn and grow, self‑starter who takes initiative, versatile, and service‑oriented. Highly organized with exceptional attention to detail while maintaining a broader project perspective. High‑level proficiency in Microsoft Office programs.

Driver's License Required:

This position requires a valid driver's license and/or the ability to operate a company vehicle due to the nature of job duties, which include frequent travel to various client locations across a large geographical area. Ability to pass a pre‑hire background check and drug test. Ability to tolerate summer and winter weather conditions while working in the field. Ability to walk long distances in potentially rough terrain. Ability to lift and carry up to 40 lbs.

• Preferred Experience leading field‑based Waters of the United States (WOTUS), including wetlands delineations using the 1987 Corps Wetland Delineation Manual and applicable regional supplements.
• Experience performing protected species assessments and habitat evaluations.
• Experience researching rare, threatened, and endangered (RTE) species using federal and state databases.
• Experience managing environmental field data and preparing technical reports to support land development projects.
• Exposure to environmental permitting, NEPA documentation, environmental due diligence, and compliance management programs.
• Experience supporting renewable energy, power, technology, oil and gas, or other capital infrastructure projects.

Key Responsibilities:

• Perform wetland delineations using the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Wetlands Delineation Manuals (1987 and 1989) and Regional Supplements.
• With appropriate guidance and supervision, provide creative and fit‑for‑purpose technical analyses in your field of specialization and support analyses outside your primary discipline by collaborating with subject matter experts and multidisciplinary teams.
• Provide technical assistance on a wide range of capital infrastructure and other projects, including preparation of environmental assessments and environmental impact statements under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), environmental due diligence services, RTE habitat assessments, WOTUS delineations and reports, Phase I Environmental Site Assessments, and related environmental documentation.
• Perform project delivery activities, including conducting field surveys, collecting and organizing field data, performing research and literature reviews, writing technical reports, and developing recommendations and strategies for clients.
• Conduct tasks related to environmental assessments, including land use planning and facility siting, pipeline and transmission routing studies, renewable energy desktop and field‑based environmental assessments and reporting, and development of permit matrices and risk assessments.
• Assist in the preparation of project‑specific compliance management plans in accordance with applicable federal, state, and local requirements.
• Perform multi‑media permitting and compliance documentation with an emphasis on U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, National Marine Fisheries Service, and various state and local agencies.
• Work within quality, budget, schedule, and scope expectations while developing a foundational understanding of project management responsibilities.
• Support ERM Partners‑in‑Charge and Project Managers in delivering exceptional client value.
• Serve as an integral member of the Capital Project Delivery team and contribute to the overall success of the practice.

This position is primarily field‑based and offers extensive opportunities to develop expertise in wetlands, protected species management, environmental permitting, and erosion and sedimentation control compliance throughout the mid‑Atlantic and southeastern United States.

Who We Are:

As the largest global pure play sustainability consultancy, we partner with the world’s leading organizations, creating innovative solutions to sustainability challenges and unlocking commercial opportunities that meet the needs of today while preserving opportunity for future generations.

At ERM we know that creating a diverse, equitable and inclusive work environment is an essential part of making our company a great place to build a career.

We also see our diversity as a strength that helps us create better solutions for our clients.

Our diverse team of world‑class experts supports clients across the breadth of their organizations to operationalize sustainability, underpinned by our deep technical expertise in addressing their environmental, health, safety, risk and social issues.

We call this capability our “boots to boardroom” approach for its comprehensive service model that allows ERM to develop strategic and technical solutions that advance objectives on the ground or at the executive level.

ERM is proud to be an Equal Employment Opportunity employer. We do not discriminate based upon race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, status as a protected veteran, status as an individual with a disability, or other applicable legally protected characteristics.

#LI‑SO2 #LI‑Hybrid At ERM, sustainability is our business. We are the world’s largest advisory firm focused solely on sustainability, offering unparalleled expertise across business and finance. ERM partners with clients to operationalize sustainability at pace and scale, through our unique combination of strategic transformation and technical delivery capabilities. Our diverse global team of experts works with the world’s leading organizations to help them set clear sustainability targets, measure progress and operationalize strategy through deep implementation and business transformation. With more than 50 years of experience, our ability to integrate sustainability solutions and our depth and breadth of technical knowledge are why organizations choose to partner with us as their trusted advisor. Every one of us firmly believes in the potential to create value for our clients through an integrated approach to sustainability (because we have personally seen it and professionally achieved it). Our team members are passionate about client service. We work closely with our clients to help them operationalize their sustainability goals and meet their environmental, health and safety objectives while advancing ERM’s purpose through delivering tangible progress in what the United Nations coined The Decade of Action. Organizing our people across globally integrated communities of technical and strategic talent positions ERM to be a “boots to boardroom” leader in bringing that value creation to our clients, partners, and the world. We recruit exceptional professionals with a personal and professional passion for sustainability and nurture them to even greater success as specialists. We prepare our consultants to bring integrated, innovative and sustainable solutions to our clients and provide opportunities for ongoing development across a variety of subject areas related to technical, business, and personal growth. At ERM, effort pays off and becomes career defining work that leaves a positive imprint on our planet.